SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated film Varanasi continues to generate massive buzz, and its leading lady Priyanka Chopra is just as thrilled about it. The actress, who stars alongside Mahesh Babu in the Telugu-language action-adventure epic, recently appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, where she spoke candidly about her return to Indian cinema after nearly a decade.
“I haven’t done an Indian movie in 6-7 years. I am now doing a movie called Varanasi, and it is directed by SS Rajamouli, who is one of India’s most amazing and talented directors. It’s going to be an adventure; I am very excited about it,” Chopra told Fallon.
The actress also gave audiences a sense of the film’s staggering production scale. “Oh my god! We have been filming for 14 months, and we are still filming for another six,” she revealed. When Fallon noted that rumours point to the film being an epic IMAX production, Chopra confirmed, “Yes, we have shot it in IMAX, so it is going to be for IMAX theatres. It is going to be great!”
The episode’s clip was subsequently shared across The Tonight Show’s official social media handles, including X and Instagram, drawing widespread attention from fans.
Varanasi is directed by Rajamouli, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside V. Vijayendra Prasad and SS Kanchi. The film is produced by S Durga Arts and Showing Business and features Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu in the lead roles, with Prithviraj Sukumaran also part of the cast. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027, timed to coincide with the Ugadi festival.
Notably, Varanasi holds a significant technical distinction it is the first Indian film and the first non-English language film to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format. Cinematographer P. S. Vinod, announced in September 2024, takes charge of the camera in what marks his first collaboration with Rajamouli, stepping in for longtime Rajamouli collaborator K. K. Senthil Kumar, who has worked with the director since Sye (2004). Veteran composer M. M. Keeravani, who has scored music for all of Rajamouli’s films, returns to helm the film’s soundtrack, while Tammiraju has been brought on as editor. Actor Nassar also joined the team in a supportive capacity, assisting Mahesh Babu with dialect training.
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